The leader of the popular crowd, Sheikh Muhannad Mahmood, revealed in a video interview with kurdish Rudaw TV, that the children were undergoing training to learn how to confront Islamic State terrorists.

"We have prepared fighters for all kinds of situations and have officers and committees on how to use child fighters in battles" Sheikh Muhannad told Rudaw.

He added that children were also receiving educational and religious training.

"We have trained the children to use pistols, Kalashnikovs, and evacuate the wounded" the Sheikh admitted.